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DC Portrait of Debra Chandler

Debra Chandler

Therapist blending CBT with compassionate care

LMSW Michigan

Experience
40 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Eating
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Debra

About Debra

Debra Chandler brings a cognitive behavioral foundation to her work while blending client-centered and mindfulness perspectives to support lasting change. She frames therapy as a collaborative process in which clients examine thought patterns, emotional and bodily responses, and behavior to build greater self-awareness and practical strategies.

Background and approach

Her style is warm, down-to-earth, and gently curious, with an approachable sense of humor that helps put people at ease.

With four decades in mental health practice, Debra addresses a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, eating and body-image concerns, addiction, grief, trauma and abuse, sleep difficulties, anger, and coping with life changes.

She also works with mood disorders, panic, ADHD, caregiver stress, family-of-origin problems, and issues such as guilt, shame, and forgiveness. Debra uses mindfulness techniques for eating styles and weight management alongside motivational interviewing strategies to support commitment to change.

Debra is licensed as an LMSW in Michigan and brings a humanistic ethic to treatment that prioritizes a nonjudgmental, compassionate therapeutic relationship. Her practice emphasizes practical tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy within an integrative, client-focused frame to help people move toward clearer goals and improved day-to-day functioning.

Practical approaches for online healing and change

Debra draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; CBT offers concrete strategies for managing symptoms like anxiety, depression, panic, and difficult daily habits. She also uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people become more aware of their bodily sensations, eating styles, and present-moment experience, which can support coping with stress, emotional reactivity, and body-image concerns.

Choosing a therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Debra works with clients to explore which methods fit their goals and preferences, combining techniques when helpful and adjusting over time so the work feels meaningful and aligned with what the client hopes to achieve.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access sessions from varied locations within Michigan, and use therapeutic tools between appointments, all while collaborating with a licensed therapist to tailor the approach to each person's needs.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Debra commonly address?
Her practice covers many issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related problems, eating and body image concerns, addictions, grief, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, anger, and coping with life changes.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Debra integrates client-centered warmth with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness techniques, offering a collaborative, nonjudgmental space to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
How long has she practiced in mental health?
She has worked in the mental health field since 1979, bringing forty years of experience to her clinical work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LMSW with licence MI LMSW 6801015575 and practices in Michigan.
Does she work with clients who speak other languages or internationally?
She provides services in English and is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered for online work?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for therapy with her?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesEating disordersSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational Interviewing

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English